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SuisseAlbert Rösti would like to wage war at 30 km/h in town
The Minister of Transport would plan to limit zones 30 to exceptional cases via a prescription without possible referendum, sowing dismay.
The limitations of 30 km/h could soon be rare in town.
Urs Jaudas/Tages-AnzeigerNothing is yet official but the “Tages-Anzeiger” affirms it: the Minister of Transport, Albert Rösti, would prepare to lead a sling against limits to 30 km/h in the cities. Concretely, the federal advisor UDC would like to make 50 km/h the rule and allow only the 30th “in exceptional cases”. This desire is not a fad of the Bernese, but the response to a motion which had been validated by the two chambers last year.
Rather than modifying the law, which would open the way to a referendum, Albert Rösti would prepare to force the reform in force, via an order. Asked about the subject by the Zurich daily, the Transport Department explained that this path would allow faster implementation of the reform, without however confirming that this option had been chosen. The Federal Road Office, for its part, said that “work is underway so that the Federal Council can open the necessary consultation”.
“Attack on democracy”
The national councilor Peter Schilliger (PLR/LU), also a member of the TCS board of directors, had deposited the original motion. And he is delighted with these probable developments. Whoever deplored a “decision -making” is now reassured: “We can move forward.” And a passage by prescription does not bother him: “If someone is not satisfied, he can launch an initiative.”
The President of the Greens, Lisa Mazzone, says that this is an “attack on democracy”. According to the Geneva, Albert Rösti is trying to “get around the rights of citizens to impose his automotive agenda”. The Union of Swiss cities has denounced a “limitation of the field of action of municipalities, cities and cantons”, while the Transport and Environment association expressed fears relating to the rise in noise and the risks of accidents.
Zones 30: Geneva brake, Vaud persists
The question of zones 30 in town recently occupied elected officials and magistrates in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud. At the end of the lake, the Council of State had proclaimed an imposing order of 30 areas on more than 450 roads. But justice had this decision canceled in March, believing that impact studies were lacking. In the canton of Vaud, the Parliament recently chose to continue to let the municipalities free to lower the speed on the main axes despite the future federal reform. Note that the city of Friborg, for its part, has just drawn a very positive assessment of its situation, a year and a half after having generalized the 30 km/h on 60% of its roads.
